Dual Panel1On that same <01931> day <03117> King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325> gave <05414> the estate <01004> of Haman <02001>, that adversary <06887> of the Jews <03064>, to Queen <04436> Esther <0635>. Now Mordecai <04782> had come <0935> before <06440> the king <04428>, for <03588> Esther <0635> had revealed <05046> how <04100> he <01931> was related to her.
2The king <04428> then removed <05493> his signet ring <02885> (the very one he had taken back <05674> from Haman <02001>) and gave <05414> it to Mordecai <04782>. And Esther <0635> designated <07760> Mordecai <04782> to be in <05921> charge of Haman’s <02001> estate <01004>.
3Then Esther <0635> again <03254> spoke <01696> with <06440> the king <04428>, falling <05307> at <06440> his feet <07272>. She wept <01058> and begged him for mercy <02603>, that he might nullify <05674> the evil <07451> of Haman <02001> the Agagite <091> which <0834> he had intended <02803> against <05921> the Jews <03064>.
4When the king <04428> extended <03447> to Esther <0635> the gold <02091> scepter <08275>, she <0635> arose <06965> and stood <05975> before <06440> the king <04428>.
5She said <0559>, “If <0518> the king <04428> is so inclined and if <0518> I have met <04672> with his approval <02580> and if the matter <01697> is agreeable <03787> to the king <04428> and if I <0589> am attractive to him, let an edict be written <03789> rescinding those recorded <03789> intentions <04284> of Haman <02001> the son <01121> of Hammedatha <04099>, the Agagite <091>, which <0834> he wrote <03789> in order to destroy <06> the Jews <03064> who <0834> are throughout all <03605> the king’s <04428> provinces <04082>.
6For <03588> how <0349> can <03201> I watch <07200> the calamity <07451> that <0834> will befall <04672> my people <05971>, and how <0349> can <03201> I watch <07200> the destruction <013> of my relatives <04138>?”
7King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325> replied <0559> to Queen <04436> Esther <0635> and to Mordecai <04782> the Jew <03064>, “Look <02009>, I have already given <05414> Haman’s <02001> estate <01004> to Esther <0635>, and he has been hanged <08518> on <05921> the gallows <06086> because <0834> <05921> he took <03027> <07971> hostile action <03027> <07971> against the Jews <03064>.
8Now you <0859> write <03789> in <05921> the king’s <04428> name <08034> whatever <02896> in your opinion <05869> is appropriate <02896> concerning the Jews <03064> and seal <02856> it with the king’s <04428> signet ring <02885>. Any decree <03791> that <0834> is written <03789> in the king’s <04428> name <08034> and sealed <02856> with the king’s <04428> signet ring <02885> cannot <0369> be rescinded <07725>.
9The king’s <04428> scribes <05608> were quickly <06256> summoned <07121>– in the third <07992> month <02320> (that <01931> is, the month <02320> of Sivan <05510>), on the twenty-third <06242> <07969> day. They wrote out <03789> everything <03605> that <0834> Mordecai <04782> instructed <06680> to <0413> the Jews <03064> and to <0413> the satraps <0323> and the governors <06346> and the officials <08269> of the provinces <04082> all the way from <05704> India <01912> to <05704> Ethiopia <03568>– a hundred <03967> and twenty-seven <06242> <07651> provinces <04082> in all– to each province <04082> <04082> in its own script <03789> and to each people <05971> <05971> in their own language <03956>, and to <0413> the Jews <03064> according to their own script <03789> and their own language <03956>.
10Mordecai wrote <03789> in the name <08034> of King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325> and sealed <02856> it with the king’s <04428> signet ring <02885>. He then sent <07971> letters <05612> by couriers <07323> <03027> on horses <05483>, who rode <07392> royal <0327> horses <07409> that were very swift.
11The king <04428> thereby allowed <05414> the Jews <03064> who were in <0834> <0834> every <03605> city <05892> <05892> to assemble <06950> and to stand up <05975> for <05921> themselves <05315>– to destroy <08045>, to kill <02026>, and to annihilate <06> any <03605> army <02426> of whatever people <05971> or province <04082> that should become their adversaries <06696>, including their women <0802> and children <02945>, and to confiscate <0962> <07998> their property.
12This was to take place on a certain <0259> day <03117> throughout all <03605> the provinces <04082> of King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325>– namely, on the thirteenth <06240> <07969> day of the twelfth <06240> <08147> month <02320> (that <01931> is, the month <02320> of Adar <0143>).
13A copy <06572> of the edict <03791> was to be presented <05414> as law <01881> throughout each <04082> and every <03605> province <04082> and made known <01540> to all <03605> peoples <05971>, so that the Jews <03064> might be <01961> prepared <06259> on that <02088> day <03117> to avenge <05358> themselves from their enemies <0341>.
14The couriers <07323> who were riding <07392> the royal <0327> horses <07409> went forth <03318> with the king’s <04428> edict <01697> without delay <0926>. And the law <01881> was presented <05414> in Susa <07800> the citadel <01002> as well.
15Now Mordecai <04782> went out <03318> from the king’s <04428> presence <06440> in purple <08504> and white <02353> royal <04438> attire <03830>, with a large <01419> golden <02091> crown <05850> and a purple <0713> linen <0948> mantle <08509>. The city <05892> of Susa <07800> shouted <06670> with joy <08055>.
16For the Jews <03064> there was <01961> radiant <0219> happiness <08057> and joyous <08342> honor <03366>.
17Throughout every <03605> province <04082> <04082> and throughout every <03605> city <05892> where <0834> the king’s <04428> edict <01697> and his law <01881> arrived <05060>, the Jews <03064> experienced happiness <08057> and joy <08342>, banquets <04960> and holidays <02896> <03117>. Many <07227> of the resident <0776> peoples <05971> pretended to be Jews <03054>, because <03588> the fear <06343> of the Jews <03064> had overcome <05307> them.